diff --git a/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/content/MetadataDSpaceCsvExportServiceImpl.java b/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/content/MetadataDSpaceCsvExportServiceImpl.java
index 7e313b7951..3dd3965893 100644
--- a/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/content/MetadataDSpaceCsvExportServiceImpl.java
+++ b/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/content/MetadataDSpaceCsvExportServiceImpl.java
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ import org.dspace.content.service.ItemService;
 import org.dspace.content.service.MetadataDSpaceCsvExportService;
 import org.dspace.core.Constants;
 import org.dspace.core.Context;
-import org.dspace.eperson.service.GroupService;
 import org.dspace.handle.factory.HandleServiceFactory;
 import org.dspace.scripts.handler.DSpaceRunnableHandler;
 import org.dspace.services.ConfigurationService;
@@ -42,9 +41,6 @@ public class MetadataDSpaceCsvExportServiceImpl implements MetadataDSpaceCsvExpo
     @Autowired
     private ConfigurationService configurationService;
 
-    @Autowired
-    private GroupService groupService;
-
     @Override
     public DSpaceCSV handleExport(Context context, boolean exportAllItems, boolean exportAllMetadata, String identifier,
                                   DSpaceRunnableHandler handler) throws Exception {
@@ -117,15 +113,6 @@ public class MetadataDSpaceCsvExportServiceImpl implements MetadataDSpaceCsvExpo
                                                      DSpaceRunnableHandler handler) throws SQLException {
         int itemExportLimit = configurationService.getIntProperty(
                 "metadataexport.max.items", 500);
-        String[] ignoreLimitGroups =  configurationService.getArrayProperty(
-                "metadataexport.admin.groups");
-
-        for (String group : ignoreLimitGroups) {
-            if (groupService.isMember(context, context.getCurrentUser(), group)) {
-                itemExportLimit = Integer.MAX_VALUE;
-                break;
-            }
-        }
 
         List<Item> items = IteratorUtils.toList(toExport);
         if (items.size() > itemExportLimit) {
diff --git a/dspace/config/dspace.cfg b/dspace/config/dspace.cfg
index 5acc60343f..f418cd55db 100644
--- a/dspace/config/dspace.cfg
+++ b/dspace/config/dspace.cfg
@@ -912,9 +912,6 @@ org.dspace.app.itemexport.max.size = 200
 # If not set, this will default to 500 items
 # metadataexport.max.items = 500
 
-# A list of groups that are allowed to use the metadata-export script without any restrictions
-#metadataexport.admin.groups = Administrator
-
 
 ### Batch Item import settings ###
 # The directory where the results of imports will be placed (mapfile, upload file)
diff --git a/dspace/config/modules/rest.cfg b/dspace/config/modules/rest.cfg
index 3bb620510e..6dd1ab89fb 100644
--- a/dspace/config/modules/rest.cfg
+++ b/dspace/config/modules/rest.cfg
@@ -59,3 +59,4 @@ rest.properties.exposed = ldn.notify.inbox
 rest.properties.exposed = handle.canonical.prefix
 rest.properties.exposed = contentreport.enable
 rest.properties.exposed = duplicate.enable
+rest.properties.exposed = metadataexport.max.items